Publisher's Synopsis
Not since Murray's Classic Work of 1913 has there been so seriously researched history chess which is also readable. Since then what was still largely seen as the preserve of a few upper-class eccentrics has become an international sport, played by millions and watched by even more on TV.
Richard Eales long overdue study traces the game from its origin in the East, through its medieval status and symbolism, to the new process of the Renaissance. The social changes of the eighteenth century brought popularity to the game which has developed into a sedentary sport - both amateur and professional - of the 1980s . In tracing the social history of chess, the author also highlights the most striking facets of the game: The varied design of of the chess pieces. The technical details od the play, the great players of the past such as Philidor, Morphy Capablanca, Alekhine, Fischer and the extraordinary popularity of chess in the Soviet Union
A Cambridge trained chess historian, Mr. Eales is a lecturer in the University of Kent. He is also a chess player of distinction (British Junior Chess Champion 1960) and an accomplished author (Alekhine's Defense 1973).
Combining first class research with an eye for the apt quotation and illustration, Richard Eales has produced - for chess players and historians alike - a lasting contribution to the literature on the oldest and greatest of all games.
The jacket illustration of a fourteenth century ivory mirror is reproduced by permission of the trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
